Potential and Kinetic Energy - Experiment 1 - Measuring Energy: How does the height of an object affect its potential energy?
Experiment 1
Measuring Energy: How does the height of an object affect its potential energy?
Purpose/Hypothesis
In this experiment, you will drop a rubber ball and measure its rebound height. When you pick up the ball and raise it to a certain height, your body is performing work, and the ball is gaining potential energy as a result. When you release the ball, this potential energy changes to kinetic energy as the force of gravity causes the ball to gain speed. When the ball hits the ground, its kinetic energy changes back to potential energy as the ball comes to a stop and is compressed by the impact. A split second later, the potential energy of this compression propels the ball back into the air, giving it kinetic energy again. Finally, as the ball reaches the maximum height of its rebound, its kinetic energy is converted back into potential energy,...
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